OUR TOUR OF ICELAND

We took the Golden Circle South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik.  Cost:  $135/person.

Seeing Iceland’s south coast in a single day can feel rushed or impersonal on large coach tours, but this small-group experience offers a more comfortable and flexible way to explore. Travel from Reykjavik in a luxury minibus through volcanic landscapes, stopping at highlights such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the black-sand beach of Reynisfjara, and the Solheimajökull glacier.

• Check off multiple attractions of Iceland's coast in just one trip
• Pickup and drop-off included from central Reykjavik for ease
• With a capped group size, enjoy better access to viewpoints.
• Onboard Wi-Fi keeps you connected throughout the day.

South Coast Itinerary Map & Route

The South Coast route runs east-southeast along Route 1 (Ring Road) toward Vík:

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall: Walk entirely behind the cascading sheet of water.
Skógafoss Waterfall: Climb the high staircase for panoramic coastal views.
Sólheimajökull Glacier (Optional): Catch views of the retreating glacial tongue.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: See the dramatic basalt columns and roaring Atlantic waves. [1]

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

High-end transport is a key perk of this tour; travel by luxury Mercedes minibus.

Read more about - Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

I provide all the above information because the reality was something else.  Here is what really happened:

• From 7:30AM when we were picked up at the Hilton until we were dropped off at around 3PM, it rained.  Sometimes very hard,.  Never stopped at all, although there were moments of mere drizzle

• 
  Our tour was mostly riding around.

• The first hour was just getting to our initial visit site.
• Nothing much to see outside as the scenery was ground covered with some growth, in the rain and fog.  A few horses, sheep and cattle.  No towns or villages.  Just volcanic desolation, and subsequent growth of moss.
• Being from Hawaii, we are familiar with the volcanic-related stops, so nothing was new.
• The temperature was in the low 50's.  Not bad, actually, for this is August.  But the relative cold plus rain made it difficult for me to do much outside the mini-bus.
• Initial words from Gunnar, our driver and tour guide:

• Lunch of fish soup and beer at our long Geysirs stop.   Cost around $35!!!

• Video of our short walk at the Geysirs.  They spell it differently.

Our final attraction was Kerid Crater.

• 
  There was no stop in Reykjavik except to our hotel.  We thus are thinking about paying $47/person later today for the Hop On / Hop Off bus that stops right next to our hotel.   There are 16 stops.  We would take a first 90 minute ride for the entire cycle, then stop a couple of places.  If we do, I'll report about this adventure tomorrow. 

Stop 1: Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

Stop 2: The Old Harbour

Stop 3: Reykjavik Maritime Museum

Stop 4: Whales of Iceland

Stop 5: National Museum of Iceland

Stop 6: Lækjargata (Central downtown)

Stop 7: Laugavegur Shopping Street

Stop 8: Reykjavik Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Stop 9: Hallgrímskirkja Church

Stop 10: BSÍ Bus Terminal

Stop 11: Perlan Museum

Stop 12: Kringlan Shopping Centre

Stop 13: Hilton Reykjavík Nordica

Stop 14: Laugardalur Valley (Family Park and Zoo)

Stop 15: Skarfabakki Cruise Ship Terminal (Summer only)

Stop 16: Höfði House [1]

Well, that was not much.  For those who need to know more, here is a video of the 12 BEST things to do in Rekjavik Iceland.  Just in case we never take the Hop On / Hop Off bust tour.  

Or, this is a video of what our tour could have been with sunshine, eruptions (right), geysers, icy conditions and the like,  None of this appeared on our 6.5 hours mostly in the mini-bus experience.  Maybe we're spoiled, but episode 53 of Kilauea on the Big Island is expected to occur around now.  Here is a photo below from episode 52.

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ICELAND

 But first:

Dow hits new closing record as tech stocks drag Nasdaq

• This has been a great week for the DOW and the S&P 500, for they set record highs on Tuesday.
• The Dow rose 263.18 yesterday to 54,349.06.
• However both the S&P and Nasdaq dropped.
• Volume of 17.85 million share volume was slightly higher than the average of the past trading days.

Regarding the Iran war, there seems to be a truce,  and therefore some relief, without any clear resolution.  

• Iran is close to reaching an agreement  with Oman to open the Strait of Hormuz.  The U.S. could approve this, or not.  There is that matter of fees.
• Oil prices, though, are edging down today, $79.24 for the Brent.
• There remain two blockades.
• U.S. over Iranian ports.
• Houthis on Saudi Arabia.
• The new Iranian Supreme Leader, the younger Khamenei, was wounded in the strike that killed his father, and has not since then appeared in public.  Did not go to the funeral.

We just returned from our tour of Reykjavik.  I need some time to organize the outing and will provide details tomorrow.  For now, some history of Iceland.

• Gaelic monks from Ireland first came around 800 AD, and were not there when Vikings from Norway arrived in 861.
• Towards the end of the 10th century, Christianity arrived through the influence of Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason.  Why?
• Around 961, Eldgja volcano erupted and created food crises throughout world.
• Many thought this was an act of God, so in came Christianity.

• 
  Norway, Sweden and Denmark were united in one alliance from 1397 to 1523.
• When this Kalmar Union dissolved, Iceland fell under Danish rule.
• Iceland did not fare well for the next few centuries.
• Laki volcano erupted in 1783, killing 9,000 and 80% the livestock on the island.

• 
  Fought with UK/U.S/Canada troops, and gained sovereignty after World War One, becoming the Kingdom of Iceland in 1918, but still linked to Denmark until World War 2.
• Iceland stayed neutral in World War 2, but was occupied by 25,000 UK troops.

• 
  In 1944, while Denmark was under Nazi occupation, Iceland declared itself a republic, and at that time was occupied by the USA, with 40,000 military people.
• Was a founding member of NATO, and joined the United Nations in 1945.
• By the end of WWII, Iceland was transformed from one of Europe's poorest countries to one of the world's wealthiest.  Even then, they received the most Marshall Aid per capita than any European country.

• 
  Vigdis Finnbogadottir became president in 1980, the first elected female head of state in the world.
• Never joined the European Union.
• While financial growth was excellent, Iceland suffered a financial crisis from 2008-2011, the population dropped,
• In 2009, the prime minister was Johann Siguroardottir, the world's first open homosexual head of government.
• 
• In 2010, a series of volcanic events at Eyafjallajokull caused enormous disruption air travel.
• Is a relatively young island, formed by volcanic eruption 20 million years ago.  Still growing.  The island of Hawaii is only a million years old.
• Was covered with ice until 10,000 years ago, when the Ice Age ended.

• 
  Iceland today is run by Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir and President Hall Tomasdottir.
• Iceland's first and only billionaire is 59-year old Thor Bjorgolfsson (right).  Educated in the USA, but made his early money in Russia.
• Iceland has just about 400,000 people.
• Some fun facts about Iceland.
• Is about the same geographical size as the state of Virginia.  However, Iceland is 2.4 times larger than Denmark.  
• Has Europe's oldest Parliament, formed in 930.

• 
  Belongs to NATO, but is the only member with no military.
• Police don't carry guns.
• Named the world's safest country in 2024 for the 16th year in a row by the Global Peace Index.
• Watch out for Hakarl, fermented shark.  Pungent and a tradition.
• Geothermal energy is responsible for 85% of the electricity, with hydro the remaining 15%.

• 
  Around one in ten Icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime.
• No McDonald's.  But Subway and KFC, yup.  Hamburgers are most popular, served by their longstanding Hamborgarabulla Tomasar, also known as Tommi's Burger Joint or Bullan.  There are nine of them.  Old McDonald's are now called Metro.
• There are no mosquitos.
• Has the least densely populated country in Europe.  Two-thirds live in Reykjavik, the capital.
• 
  Has some strange museums
• The Icelandic Phallological Museum has 280 penis specimens from different animals, including humans.
• There is a Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft.

• 
  Has 250 named glaciers, which cover 11% of its land.  Vatnajokull is three times the size of Luxembourg.  However, since 2000, have shrunk by 750 square kilometers, an area bigger than Singapore.

Tomorrow, our 7-hour tour of Iceland.  Here is just one video, of Brúarfoss Waterfalls.

I'll close with what might be the most difficult national anthem to sing, Iceland's Lofsöngur.  Here is another version.  You need to be able to cover nearly two octaves.  The Star-Spangled Banner is a challenge at an octave and a fifth.

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WE ARE IN SEATTLE

Took Delta from Honolulu to Seattle.  First time I've been on this airline for decades.  Why?  Because it was so much cheaper and quicker in business class compared to Alaska, Hawaiian or United.  While business or first class international allows you into their lounge to await departure, this does not apply to domestic flights.  

Views of Diamond Head and a Hawaiian Airlines plane behind us as we are taxiing to the Reef Runway.

Taking-off.

Business class environment, service, food and drinks were excellent. Watched a 2025 Taiwanese film:

• A composite of all the things that can go wrong on two trains going in opposite directions, with a dozen backstories and a lot of flashbacks.
• Good visual effects,
• Confusing.
• Too many relationships and side stories to appreciate
• No score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The audio-visual system was superior, with access  to the following live channels.

Airline also gave a lot of data as we crossed the Pacific.

Sunset just before our Seattle approach.

The time in Honolulu, Seattle, and Atlanta, with other info.  I wonder if Atlanta was the next stop.  Did not realize that this city was at elevation.

Landed on time at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  At 10PM, still a whole lot of people milling about.

The Airport Marriott shuttle runs 24 hours/day, every 15 minutes.  Room, outstanding.  Breakfast, free, and as about expected, or okay.  One day fine, but every day for a week can get tiresome.  Of course, I will hate to gain another 7 pounds on this trip, so, fine, for something similar will be served when we are in Reykjavik, Montreal and Vancouver.  

A bit cloudy this morning with outside temperature of 64F.  This is what we would see if clear.

Mount Rainier:

• Also known as Tahoma, is a stratovolcano, 59 miles from Seattle.
• 14,406 feet tall, the highest mountain in the state of Washington.
• Still is considered to be an active volcano.
• Read this from Wikipedia, and get as confused as I am:

The most recent recorded volcanic activity was between 1820 and 1854, but many eyewitnesses reported eruptive activity in 1858, 1870, 1879, 1882, and 1894 as well.^[58]Additionally, the Smithsonian Institution's volcanism project records the last volcanic eruption as 1450 CE.^[6]

Due to its high probability of an eruption in the near future and proximity to a major urban area, Mount Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, and it is on the Decade Volcano list.^[14] The large amount of glacial ice means that Mount Rainier could produce massive lahars that could threaten the entire Puyallup River valley and other river valleys draining Mount Rainier, including the Carbon, White, Nisqually, and Cowlitz (above Riffe Lake).^[15] According to the United States Geological Survey's 2008 report, "about 80,000 people and their homes are at risk in Mount Rainier's lahar-hazard zones."^[16]

• 
  Mount St. Helens, for example blew up in 1980, but had a previous eruption in 1857.  More recently had some activity in the 2004-2008 period.
• They are both part of the Ring of Fire.
• Nearly half a million people have attempted to climb Mount Rainier from 1950 to 2022.  Approximately 84 died.

This afternoon, Icelandair to Reykjavik.  Will take 7 hours and 35 minutes.

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